1 . Gelje Sherpa was leading a Chinese climber up Mount Qomolangma when he spotted a Malaysian climber in need of help, and the two men then abandoned the summit (顶峰) in order to rescue the Malaysian climber. They were in the “death zone”, an area near the summit of Mount Qomolangma where temperatures are extremely low and where there isn’t enough oxygen to breathe.
The Malaysian climber had “nothing” and was on the brink (边缘) of death. Gelje recalled that no one was helping him, no friends, no oxygen, no Sherpas with him and no guides. Stopping at an altitude where the body was rapidly deteriorating (恶化) and where many deaths occur was quite dangerous for him. However, other climbers and guides just focused on the summit, so that they didn’t notice the Malaysian climber’s state.
According to Nepali officials, 12 people have died, and five are missing on Qomolangma as the spring climbing season comes to an end. Gelje, the Sherpa, said there were a few likely reasons why this season has been so deadly. The weather has been poor and extremely cold, and some climbers lack experience or sufficient training for such a high altitude.
Gelje was guiding a Chinese climber to the summit when he made the decision that they would abandon their journey to save the Malaysian climber.
It was nearly an impossible task: Gelje had to secure the climber to his back and carry him down 600 meters for about six hours before another guide joined the rescue. They then took turns carrying the climber, wrapped in a sleeping mat, sometimes having to drag him through the snow, before reaching a helicopter that carried them down to base camp.
The rescue, which took place on May 18, 2023, was massively challenging. Gelje has previously carried out more than 55 rescues during his work as a guide, some very long operations, but he said the rescue was the hardest in his life.
1. When did Gelje meet the climber in danger?| A．After reaching the summit. | B．During the rest in the “death zone”. |
| C．On the way to the top of the mount. | D．During the journey back to base camp. |
| A．They didn’t know the climber. | B．They were at a dangerous altitude. |
| C．They lacked experience of helping people. | D．They only cared about their arrival at the summit. |
| A．He’s an experienced coach. | B．He’s careful and skilled at climbing. |
| C．He s a rescue worker on Qomolangma. | D．He’s irresponsible for the climber he led. |
| A．A Hard Rescue for a Climber | B．A Difficult Task from a Guide |
| C．A “Death Zone” Blocking Climbers | D．A Sad Decision to Give Up Climbing |
2 . A new kind of hybrid wheat now available to American farmers may help reduce fears over genetically engineered crops. The new hybrid wheat is being introduced as seed companies worldwide seek to increase production because of reducing grain supplies. The hybrid wheat was developed by a Chinese-owned agriculture company. The product was created without genetic engineering. The first seeds to grow the wheat will be released on 2, 000 to 2, 800 hectares of American farmland next year, according to Reuters reports.
Developers or breeders create hybrid wheat by taking away the natural ability of plants to pollinate (授粉) themselves. Instead, female wheat plants in a field are pollinated by male plants of a different line. The goal of the process is to create seeds that can produce bigger crops and better resist harmful environments. The fertilized female plants produce a new kind of hybrid. Using this hybrid technology permits breeders to choose the best elements from two parent seeds to produce new seeds containing the best characteristics of both.
Producers say when seed companies produce hybrid wheat seeds, some female plants often fail to become fertilized because they depend on unpredictable winds to carry pollen (花粉). Pollen is a substance produced by plants when they reproduce. During some seasons, pollen is released into the air and carried to other plants to be fertilized. Producers say the fertilization of each plant is more certain during wheat’s natural process of self-pollination.
Researchers say the new hybrid wheat has to take long to come to market because the development process is more costly and complex. It could be important in increasing wheat yields and avoiding being linked to GMO development. GMO stands for genetically modified (改进的) organism. Genetically modified wheat has never been grown for industry purposes because of fears that allergens or poisons might be created. Wheat is used to make numerous major foods worldwide.
Dave Hankey owns a seed company in Park River, North Dakota. He told Reuters, “Because of the resistance to genetically modified stuff, the hybrid wheat would be considered better and safer.” He added it would certainly be the public view.
1. Which of the following leads the new hybrid wheat to be developed?| A．The existing unsafe grain. |
| B．The decreasing output of food. |
| C．The application from American farmers. |
| D．The Chinese agriculture company’s proposal. |
| A．Requiring less fertilizer. |
| B．Producing more but smaller crops. |
| C．Improving their natural ability of self-pollination. |
| D．Having better adaptability to the environment. |
| A．It is simple and fruitful. | B．It is complex but low-cost. |
| C．It is challenging but worthwhile. | D．It is temporary and limited. |
| A．Critical. | B．Tolerant. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Cautious. |
3 . Alongside in-depth original research that shows how families are wrestling with technology’s new realities, the goal of this book is to let you make good choices about technology in family life.
The book is broken into three parts. In the introduction, it shares the tech-wise rules, which serve as valuable conversation starters for families and provide guidelines on managing technology use. It later adds more details to these rules in each chapter.
The first part of the book gives the family unit three key action steps in creating a “tech-wise family”. First, families can choose character by developing wisdom and courage together as a family. Second, they can shape spaces within the home for creativity, which helps a family create more than consume. Third, families can structure time so that they use their resources to develop a rhythm of work and rest. It connects these three concepts to technology by giving tangible steps such as turning off devices at least one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year so that their family can pray, feast, play and rest together.
The second part explores deeply into daily aspects of life such as making sure that families use devices to benefit their lives, rather than allowing the devices to control their lives. It also shows how the writer’s family chooses to use car time for conversation rather than using devices to distract (使分心)them, how within their family there is no secrecy on devices and how families use technology intentionally in community rather than using it aimlessly and alone.
The final part reads more like an expansion to the second and addresses how technology can distract us from what matters most. The writer argues, “We show up in person for the big events of life. We learn how to be human by being fully present at our moments of greatest vulnerability (脆弱)” These final chapters address how to show up and love people well through simply being truly present for loved ones.
1. What is the book aimed to help family members do?| A．Make career choices. | B．Live a simple lifestyle. |
| C．Put technology in its place. | D．Offer guidance on buying books. |
| A．Latest. | B．Practical. |
| C．Passive once. | D．Double. |
| A．The distractions that often exist in families. |
| B．The secrets that should be kept in family life. |
| C．The benefits individuals bring to their families. |
| D．The ways the devices are used in everyday life. |
| A．By quoting. | B．By asking. |
| C．By listing statistics. | D．By making comparisons. |
4 . Visiting Ireland? Here’s what the locals love to do.
Find legends on a mountain hike
Walking is one of the best ways to get to know Ireland. “I’ve been walking for about 30 years, but I’m still trotting off to find new routes, and all of the walks seem to have stories,” says John G. O’Dwyer, author of 50 Best Irish Walks.
Feast on Irish flavors at a food truck
“Ireland’s casual food has been elevated,” said food writer Ali Dunworth. These days, food trucks, pop-up stores, and shacks are fun places to taste soulful pub fresh seafood and toasties (toasted sandwiches) with farmhouse cheese.
Visit a castle by boat
Marnie Corscadden, owner of Ballyseede Castle in Tralee, is attracted by Cloughoughter Castle, in County Cavan. Cloughoughter Castle is a four-story stone tower castle consisting of a single circular tower with high walls and a moat (护城河) surrounding it. Each floor has a curved ceiling, and the staircase winds along the inner walls. Despite being heavily damaged, the castle remains a popular tourist attraction. "Nestled on a small island, this dreamy castle is like something from a fairytale,” she said. “The fact that it’s so remote and can only be accessed by boat adds to its mystery and appeal.”
Get lost on a bike ride
“In Ireland, there are thousands of miles of quiet country roads where everyone you encounter is more than willing to give directions and point out places to visit,” said Ciaran Cannon, an official in Galway East, who cycled through all 32 counties for charity. A growing network of greenways rebooting derelict railways, such as Royal Canal and Limerick, are great for taking in the countryside.
1. How can a visitor get to Cloughoughter Castle?| A．By car. | B．By air. | C．By water. | D．On foot. |
| A．Spreading Irish culture. | B．Enjoying world scenery. |
| C．Searching for a life goal. | D．Contributing to a good cause. |
| A．John G. O’Dwyer. | B．Ali Dunworth. |
| C．Marnie Corscadden. | D．Ciaran Cannon. |
5 . In the past decade, the use of social media has grown in a way that no one could have guessed. It has turned some teenagers into celebrities and turned the famous into the infamous, overnight.
A key feature of social media, however, is its volatility. Trends come and go, disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared.
Short video apps such as TikTok and its Chinese equivalent (等同物) Douyin, took the world by storm. The Telegraph reported that TikTok was ranked 8th on Apple’s App Store in April. And Douyin had more than 300 million domestic monthly active users in June, CNBC said.
Why are these short videos — which are rarely longer than a few minutes — so popular? Jiang Yige, Singapore-based analyst at FengHe Fund Management, has a theory. “Short videos are just right to fill in the little gaps in our busy schedules,” he told CNBC.
These videos — apart from being very convenient — are important to teenagers because they allow them to express themselves, according to Teen Vogue.
Liza Koshy, a user of the US app Musical, who has over 2 million followers, said, “The sense of community that users of short video apps get is another appealing feature.”
Live streaming (直播) is a feature of our social media life that now seems as natural as sunrise. It’s a pretty neat idea: You can watch anyone, anywhere, live. However, China has taken live streaming to a whole new level. In China, more than 100 million viewers monthly watch a live streaming video. Forbes thought that a number of factors had led to the popularity of the live streaming. Among them is viewers’ ability to interact with unknown names.
However, the quick development of social media may be having side effects too. Fake news is one serious problem it causes. Materials shared on these platforms are often not checked for accuracy. The most basic content can be false and can mislead users one way or another. We use social media all the time, which doesn’t mean that we understand the influence it is having on us. We should be mindful of both the time we spend on it and its impact on our minds.
1. What does the underlined word “volatility” in Paragraph 2 possibly mean?| A．Being changeable. | B．Being steady. |
| C．Being promising. | D．Being violent. |
| A．They are very convenient. | B．They help people kill time. |
| C．They provide a sense of community. | D．They allow people to express themselves. |
| A．The information from social media is totally reliable. |
| B．When it comes to social media, people only know short videos. |
| C．People can’t communicate with each other without social media. |
| D．There is still much room for social media to make improvement. |
| A．Objective. | B．Subjective. |
| C．Favourable. | D．Disapproving. |
6 . Around half the people we consider our friends don’t consider us theirs in return, as recent research indicates. As with the famous finding that almost everyone thinks they’re in the top 50% of safe drivers, we can’t all be the ones with the right sense of who really likes us.
And if we’re struggling through life with such a wrong understanding of our social circles, what about all the other received wisdom about friendship’s importance?
It has been found that friends keep us physically healthy, alive for longer, less possibility of depression and more successful — but how much of that, especially when the research is based on self-reports, comes from those actually having friends, instead of those believing that they do?
Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that, when it comes to friendship, we’re in the control of an ego-boosting misconception (自我膨胀的错误想法): That’s true in many sides of life. People with healthy self-esteem (自尊) usually overestimate both their interpersonal skills and their control over events. Some psychologists find that slightly depressed people have an exacter grasp of their abilities than the non-depressed.
You needn’t react strongly to the thought that your “friends” might secretly not like you since this particular study focused on university students. It’s well-known that our social circles become smaller as we grow up, too often, especially in a friend-starved old age. But isn’t it possible that this decrease is better thought of as choosing the list of true friends, as we focus on those friendships that are actually rewarding, while we quit those who don’t treat us in the same way as we treat them?
There are certainly reasons to worry about a loneliness crisis among the elderly, but having only a few friends may not be good sign for it. If I make it to my final years with only a handful of friendships, it’s not a sad state, because life has decreased them down to the ones that really count. I’d call it a better use of my remaining time.
1. Why does the author mention the famous finding in paragraph 1?| A．To state that all drivers are good. |
| B．To illustrate we can’t assess friends properly. |
| C．To argue that we don’t understand social circles. |
| D．To stress the importance of friendship. |
| A．Friendship is of great significance for our life. |
| B．Friendship may not be so easy to develop as it appears. |
| C．Previous research findings about friendship maybe wrong. |
| D．Previous research on friendship is largely based on self-reports. |
| A．Those with high self-esteem. |
| B．Those with severe depression. |
| C．Those with slight depression. |
| D．Those with healthy self-esteem. |
| A．It’s sad to have only a few friends. |
| B．It’s better to have a great many friends. |
| C．It’s necessary to quit unimportant friends. |
| D．It’s OK to have a handful of true friends. |
7 . On the farm in a red outbuilding behind Luther Jackson Middle School, Mark Smith picked a piece of cabbage off the plant and took a bite.
“Tastes like victory,” he said, satisfied.
Fifteen engineering students at the school, led by Smith, their engineering teacher, have developed and built the farm using aquaponics (鱼菜共生) technology, combining the methods of hydroponics, growing plants with water rather than soil, and aquaculture, the process of growing and raising fish. The fish waste is used as food for the plants, which filter(过滤) the water to be reused in the fish tank.
“The creative project was put forward by the students,” Smith says. “Effectively combining technology with education, it serves to provide a unique learning experience, involving students in core STEM subjects like Math, Biology, Chemistry and Engineering. It’s our hope that it can help increase students’ interest and hands-on skills so that more students will be inspired and choose to take up engineering as their career in the future.”
Not only can students study fish, plants and bacteria (细菌) interacting in a living ecosystem, but they’re also in charge of every aspect of developing and keeping the farm, from ordering supplies to harvesting the greens. Camryn, 14, put a test tube into the fish tank and dropped some chemicals to test PH levels and some substances in it, She held the tube up to light, watching the color.
Behind her, Yusuf worked along a table with other students to harvest the cabbage, stuffing the leaves into bags to deliver later that afternoon to about 70 families. For him, the ability to give back to his community is the best part of the project.
“We should all be proud of ourselves,” Yusuf said, “We’re making stuff that people are going to be eating.”
1. What technology do the students apply to the farm?| A．Robotics and artificial intelligence. | B．Mechanized planting and harvesting. |
| C．Raising good bacteria to grow grain. | D．Combining fish farming and soilless planting. |
| A．Create more possible engineers. | B．Promote students’ survival skills. |
| C．Improve the fame of the school. | D．Teach students how to test water quality. |
| A．Praise from his community. | B．His mastery of farming techniques. |
| C．The company of his classmates. | D．Their contributions to the neighborhood. |
| A．Challenging. | B．Traditional. |
| C．Student-centered. | D．Energy-consuming. |
8 . Mishra, an Indian-born student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, was picking up alcohol bottles after an evening party with friends, when he dropped a bottle. As Mishra swept up the glass, he wondered, “Where does this go after the bottle is broken?” After researching, Mishra learned that 77% of glass bottles, even those that are put in a recycling bin, end up in landfills after the glass breaks.
Mishra spent hours learning how to neatly cut and create all sorts of new items from old glass. Then, together with a few other peers, he founded a start-up called Rescued Glass YVR. The group browsed beach cleanups and restaurants to gather used glass bottles, which we returned into a variety of platters, candles, glasses, and other items in their micro factory, When they sell these items in local markets, they got positive feedback, “It turns out that people are really enjoying it,” said Mishra, “They like the product,”
The student start-up built a name for itself and grew in size. By the end of 2022, it had a team of nearly two dozen students and had already succeeded in rescuing more than 6, 000 bottles. That’s when Rescued Glass YVR decided to rebrand and comeback bigger.
The business gave themselves another name-Mosa. Mishra said, “In those house parties the alcohol that we were drinking was Mosa, The name really helps us when we are thinking about larger conversations. It’s always important that you remember where you’re coming from and where the process of this entire idea ever started.” In addition to producing beautiful decor items and saving glass from landfills, Mosa has inspired other Vancouverites to get involved in making the world a better place.
It is said that glass producing is responsible for 86 million tons of carbon emissions(排放)yearly, in addition to the garbage glass that ends up in landfills, Mosa is making good use of glass, and inspiring others to do so as well. All because of a little inspiration after a college party.
1. What caused Mishra to found his start-up?| A．A research into the glass. |
| B．A bottle collecting activity. |
| C．A bottle dropping accident. |
| D．An environmental theme party. |
| A．Turn them into daily items. |
| B．Sell them in the market. |
| C．Clean and reuse them. |
| D．Cut them into halves. |
| A．Recover. | B．Rename. | C．Rescue. | D．Rethink. |
| A．Turn Trash Into Treasure | B．Make Every Penny Count |
| C．Inspiration Leads to Success | D．Create Something From Nothing |
9 . Recommended Books of This Summer
Hello Beautiful
by Ann Napolitano (Dial, $28)
A young loner marries into a family whose four sisters are fond of likening themselves to Little Women’s characters. Over the course of thirty years, the siblings (兄弟姐妹) will grow, up and change, and their sisterhood will be repeatedly challenged. Throughout, the sisters remain themselves. However, their shortcomings areas deeply rooted as their nature of kindness.
Commitment
by Mona Simpson (Knopf, $30)
In Mona Simpson’s latest novel, three siblings push into adulthood just as their mother is sent to a mental hospital. They are, together, alone in the world. As Walter builds a business career, Lina pursues art, and Donnie is addicted to drugs, their every problem is troubled by questions about money, their mother, and each other, Whatever happens, their commitment (承诺) to one another is unchanging，
Brother & Sister Enter the Forest
by Richard Mirabella (Catapult, $27)
Richard Mirabella’s first book is most impressive in its description of a never-shifting sibling relationship. When troubled Justin shows up at his sister’s door seeking help, Will a is cautious, Mirabella captures the push and pull between two characters whose love just might help each of theme sea pea “bubble of loss and fear”.
Siblings
by Brigitte Reimann (Transit, $17)
This novel set in 1960 East Germany brings the past so close that it barely feels past. It opens with a young woman arguing with her beloved brother to try to persuade him from leaving for West Germany. Reimann, who lost a brother to the West that same spring, truly believed the East German way was better.
1. What do we know about the four siblings in Hello Beautiful?| A．They live happily together for thirty years. |
| B．They distrust each other and end up as enemies. |
| C．They like to read novels, such as Little Woman. |
| D．They compare themselves to characters in Little Woman. |
| A．Ann Napolitano. | B．Mona Simpson. | C．Brigitte Reimann. | D．Richard Mirabella. |
| A．They are all about siblings. | B．They belong to nonfiction s. |
| C．They deal with mental problems. | D．They are published by the same publisher. |
10 . “Good morning,” the new teacher said. “I’m Ernesto Flores, your teacher for fifth grade. “In all his years in school, Julio had never heard a teacher use his or her first name. Of course, the students always found out what they were, but it was up to the students to discover this information for themselves.
“Now I’d like to find out who you are,” said Mr. Flores. He began to call the roll (点名) , starting with the boys. Julio shook his head. Teachers always began with the girls.
“Julio Sanchez,” called Mr. Flores, pronouncing it Hulio. That was the correct way to say the name in Spanish.
Several kids laughed. They had never heard Julio’s name pronounced without the J.
Mr. Flores looked up from the roll book. “Isn’t that how you say your name?” he asked Julio. “Or do you prefer Julio with a J?”
“At home, they call me Hulio. But at school everyone calls me Julio,” Julio said.
“Do you like two pronunciations of your name?” asked the teacher. “It’s a good Spanish name and you should be proud of it.”
Julio smiled. “I know,” he said, “but it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Are you sure?” asked Mr. Flores. “Your name is a very important part of you.”
Julio thought for a moment. “Okay,” he said. “From now on, everyone please call me Hulio. Puerto Rico, where I was born, used to be a Spanish colony (殖民地).”
“That’s right,” said Mr. Flores. “Can you tell us something about Puerto Rico?”
“I came here when I was only eight months old. I don’t remember anything,” Julio replied.
“I think you can interview your parents instead,” Mr. Flores said.
Julio nodded. It would be fun to learn more about the place where he had been born.
Julio had to admit (承认) that Mr. Flores was creative and interesting.
1. Why did Julio shake his head?| A．The new teacher was a man. | B．The new teacher used his full name. |
| C．The new teacher asked him a question. | D．The new teacher started the roll with the boys. |
| A．They didn’t like Spanish. |
| B．They found that Julio had a funny name. |
| C．They didn’t expect Julio’s name to be called first. |
| D．They thought the teacher had made a mistake in pronunciation. |
| A．Find out more about his birthplace. |
| B．Learn how to pronounce his name correctly. |
| C．Use the new name his new teacher gave to him. |
| D．Discover more information about his new teacher. |
| A．Strict. | B．Proud. |
| C．Different. | D．Hardworking. |
